Diarrhea ICD-10-CM Codes
Discover the common ICD-10 codes for diarrhea, including clinical details, synonyms, billability, and FAQs.
Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.
What ICD-10 Codes are Used for Diarrhea
Here’s a list of the three most common ICD codes used for diarrhea you can use for medical billing and coding:
- K59.1: Functional diarrhea
- P78.3: Noninfective neonatal diarrhea
- R19.7: Diarrhea, unspecified
Aside from the three mentioned above, there are two ICD-10 codes related to diarrhea. One of them is K58.0: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diarrhea, which circumstance of use is self-explanatory. Meanwhile, the other is F45.8: Other somatoform disorders can be used when the patient has psychogenic diarrhea.
Which Diarrhea ICD codes are Billable:
All of the diarrhea ICD-10 codes, including the two codes related to diarrhea, are billable.
Clinical Information
- Frequent bowel movements with loose and watery stools characterize diarrhea. There are two types: acute and chronic. Acute diarrhea typically lasts 1 to 2 days, while chronic diarrhea persists for longer, exceeding 3 to 4 weeks.
- The causes of diarrhea vary depending on its type. Acute diarrhea can be triggered by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, food intolerances, intestinal diseases, medications (as a side effect), or surgery. On the other hand, chronic diarrhea may be attributed to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- In addition to watery stools and increased bowel movements, patients may experience nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, cramping, and dehydration as common symptoms.
- Dehydration is a high-risk concern for patients with diarrhea. Diagnosing the condition involves a physical examination and urine, blood, and stool tests. Imaging tests, colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy may also be performed.
- The treatment approach focuses on resolving dehydration and addressing the underlying cause through medications and other appropriate therapies.
Synonyms Include:
- Functional diarrhea
- Acute diarrhea
- Secretory diarrhea
- Inflammatory diarrhea
- Hemorrhagic diarrhea
Commonly asked questions
You can use a diarrhea ICD code once you’ve decided on the type of diarrhea a patient has through tests and examinations.
Yes, all of the ICD-10 codes used for diarrhea are billable
Common treatments for diarrhea will vary depending on the cause. Usually, the practitioner will first provide solutions to dehydration which is expected when one has diarrhea. Afterward, they may recommend medication, especially if the cause of diarrhea is bacterial, or targeted treatments, especially if the cause is another condition.
